This one's just a little bit weird ...

*BT Stamp*

Looks fine to me, so long as we get a traveling area set up in the red quarters.  The Asha'man are well aware that it will be impossible to get inside the Tower discreetly otherwise.

Hey, we've been given the month of January to advertise the BT Div on the New Members board.  A chance to generate some interest among the newbies.  I've already started a thread there, so go make a nuisance of introduce yourselves, and draw in some fresh meat.

Hop to it boys!  We've only got until the end of the month.

DM Handle:  AshamanFan

Contact Info: chamberlain58@charter.net

Character Count: 0

Character Name: Rhidon (RY-dun) Dareshal (DAR-esh-all)

Nationality: Cairhienin

Age: 47

Physical Characteristic: His eyes are a shade of dark brown, the right eye being slightly lighter in hue than the left. His hair is mostly black yet graying, it is shorter around an area where he was wounded during the Aiel war and would not properly re-grow. He has the characteristic shortness of stature common of Cairhienin being, by our measurements, five feet and five inches in height. He is slender, with very little fat on his body.

Physical Description: He has hands that seem too large for his body. He has a limp in his left leg that hinders his mobility. His face is unmarred by scars or blemishes, yet his nose is bent and lumpy, in such a way as to be indicative of having been broken at least once. He bears one long scar across his torso where an Aiel spear cut him. His hands are calloused from working long hours on the docks where the barges settled.

Personal History:

       Rhidon was born the son of a farmer who lived with his wife and children on a small farm in western Cairhien near Andor. He had two sisters, Anna and Jehra. Ann was two years his junior and of generally cheery disposition constantly seeking Rhidon's approval and lending a hand to her brother when he seemed to need help, and always there with a listening ear when he was angry or frustrated. Jehra was three years older than he and would constantly forsake her chores leaving them for Rhidon to labor over. Rhidon constantly told his parents of his sister's misconduct yet they never believed their daughter would ignore their commands. In reality she left to flirt with the boys that lived in the village half a mile to the north, enjoying herself, which caused Rhidon to resent her. He grew to love his parents' workhorse, and animals in general, as he saw working with them a way to relieve himself of the day's stress.

      However one day as Rhidon was working the fields to finish his own chores, because Jehra yet again neglected hers so he had to do them, he heard Anna screaming. He hurriedly dropped his tools and ran back to his house to witness everything he knew go up in flames. He ran into the house, trying to find Anna, yet he could not bear the smoke and was forced to depart. He sat outside his home, sobbing in despair, when Jehra burst from their home covered in soot. She told him that Anna had been behind her; she had heard Anna yelp but was too afraid to stop. Rhidon, infuriated that Jehra had lived while the sweet caring girl he had loved so had to die, exploded. He shouted at her and rained blows down upon her, screaming "You light-blinded coward! You goat-brained lightskirt!" and the like until she broke free of him. She fled with all haste toward Andor as Rhidon threw stones at her.

      Not daring to try and salvage anything from his home Rhidon traveled to the village Jehra had oft visited. He entered the sole inn beseeching the innkeeper to sleep in the hayloft, when he saw a gleeman going by the name Caballein (being a simple farm boy Rhidon did not know the meaning of the phrase). He approached the gleeman and asked if he would take him as an apprentice; the point got across if he stumbled in his speech, excited as he was to actually meet a gleeman. Although he declined the boy, Caballein did agree to take him to someone in the city of Cairhien who would watch after him. True to his word within the month Rhidon was living in Cairhien, apprenticed to a dockworker.

      For the next decade or so Rhidon worked hard, learning the nuances of the docks and of Cairhien itself. Soon he was so accustomed to city life he could barely remember anything of farming, tracking or any such things. He enjoyed his life, working through the days hauling cargo while spending his nights listening to music in taverns. He dabbled in political matters, as is generally true of Cairhienin; he learned the ways of Da'es Daemar and was ever ready to spread rumors of some lord or lady. His luck turned for the worse when one such lady learned that he had begun a rumor about her bedding several lords and she hired men to have him beat.  As he headed away from his place of work two men suddenly grabbed him while a third hit him repeatedly with an iron rod. His left kneecap was shattered, causing him to limp after his recovery.  Two months after the incident, as he hobbled painfully down the road, he had the fortune to have a chance meeting with a beautiful woman he would go on to marry.

      His life had finally seemed to improve when King Laman cut down Avendoreldera and the Aiel invaded Cairhien. Rhidon and his wife, who was now heavy with child, fled the city toward Tar Valon. As they began to cross the River Gaelin his wife stumbled falling to cold wet stones. Rhidon rushed to help her up, when a swell knocked her off of her precarious perch and she tumbled into the water. She was quickly carried away and none ever heard of her again. Stricken with grief he went to Tar Valon, bemoaning the misfortune to lose the two women he had ever loved in any way, where he drank himself into depression and sat out the remainder of the war.

      Eventually he returned to Cairhien, and resumed working on the docks, yet he now spent every night alone, weeping for his lost love. He went through life empty for twenty years, with no purpose or desire. Yet when the Dragon Reborn conquered Cairhien yet felt as if he had the chance to try and make something of himself, in some way. His new purpose became clear when word of the amnesty, of the Black Tower, reached his ear. Although he had no family no friends and nothing to carry on his legacy, he could yet try and make his mark on the world. He again had the chance to do something important with his life, before he died. He went to a small village two leagues west of Cairhien, where he eventually met recruiters from the Tower. He went to be tested, to see if he could learn. So he came to be, a newly raised Soldier, ready to make a difference before he died.

Extra Note - Meant to add that the parents burned along with Anna, and that during the latter parts of the siege of Tar Valon he, in his depression, felt no purpose or value in life,  so he requested that he fight alongside his fellow Cairhienin. During a skirmish he and his unit were beset upon by a small band of Aiel. One of them swept at him yet he, in his unfamiliar armor and with his lack of skill, stumbled as he tried to back away. the spear aimed at his heart instead gashed his stomach when the others he fought with cut the Aiel down in a concerted effort.

Arath was one of the last to leave the Amyrlin's chamber, his careful side wanting to wait until he had as few women behind him as possible.  Stepping out into the antechamber, Arath was shown a handful of nervous looking Asha'man all watching the approaching Aes Sedai like vipers.  Not surprising, since all of the women excecpt the Taraboner, Jagen, were giving the cluster of black coated men very appraising looks.  That thorough inspection that women could seem to do at a glance.

"Well?  Are any of you going to come forward to fulfill your part of this...agreement?"  Arath grimaced.  She wasn't going to break the news gently.  Carefully stepping his way to the middle of the room, he offered an explanation to the confused looking group. 

"Alright Asha'man, listen up."  The well trained group snapped to attention, though they still looked apprehensive.  "We've secured a ... peace ... with the Aes Sedai, and assurances of future cooperation, but it comes with a price.  Most of you, if you're willing, will end up as Warders.  Due to the ranks of the sisters here, thats just the way it has to be.  In the future, bonds will be happening in equal numbers both ways.  However, this one here," he waved toward the Taraboner, "has ... volunteered to be bonded at this time."  He'd almost said 'been volunteered', but he didn't feel like putting up with the sparks that might cause.  Jagen already looked at her wits end.  Fueling the fire was not necessary.

"All of these bonds are to be entirely voluntary.  However, I highly encourage you to accept.  The Lord Dragon is counting on us to secure this agreement, however unpleasant it may be for you."

"So then, do we have a volunteer to accept Jagen Sedai's generous offer?"

Interesting ... Amadician Aes Sedai ...

*BT STAMP*

Looks good to me.

*BT Stamp*

Additionally I hate it when people "one line" you.  You write something meaningful, deep and wordy and then they respond with "Yes, I'm coming too."  and that's it. Seriously, I've had it happen before and you're left staring at your screen going ... 'how do I reply to that?'

Ah ... someone who understands where I'm coming from. :D

I'm not talking about new RPers who are really unsure of how to progress.  Light knows I have to deal with a lot of those as a DL.  I'm talking about the people who STILL do it after months and months of posting.

I *slap* just *slap* want *slap* to *slap* beat *slap* them *slap* with *slap* a *slap* shovel! *slap slap slap*

and to all a good night!

"Good," said Arath, to the nodding approval of the other three Storm Leaders.  "We have need of you.  The fact that so many seem to remember you despite Brent's efforts speaks highly of you as well.  As it happens, we are in need of a Baijan'M'Hael.  We just lost a good man to the taint, and his seat on the Guardian Council is open ... if you'll take it."

"And regardless of whether or not you take the job, you'll be needing that hand again.  If you'll allow me?"  Arath stepped forward and placed a hand on Dashiva's shoulder, siezing Saidin as he moved.  He waited for the other man's approval though ... Shienaran's had odd ideas about honor sometimes, and it wouldn't do to tread upon it right now.

*bumpity*

Sooo ... what makes your brand of crazy better than all the other crazies you can find around the PSW?  The people have a right to know ... or does Amadician law say otherwise? I always forget. :P

I think the horse racing sort of threw everyone off :P

We really don't have a lot of horses at the farm.  Travelling is a bit faster than the poor old nags anyway.

Yep, looks good now.

I hate the male channelers that 'embrace' Saidin ... one of my biggest pet peeves :P

On a more serious note, I dislike RP's with people who don't advance the thread at all.  You know, the kind of people who respond to everything you write, but then leave it hanging, waiting for you to keep going.  I know it has to happen sometimes, but I'm talking the people who do it on every single post, without fail.  Drives me nuts.

Arath fingered the silver sword pin on his collar for a moment, wondering how best to explain.  He'd been working with Saidin for so long that he often forgot what was common knowledge, and what was completely foreign to non channelers.  "You've heard of angreal before?  They're very rare instruments which make a channeler stronger than normal.  A fairly average angreal could double the strength of the man who wields it.  A strong one could make him many times stronger.  But they're very hard to find now.  Especially for men.  The Aes Sedai have done a fairly good job of destroying them I'd imagine.

"Anyway, that's what I've been trying to do."  He pulled the silver pin from his collar and turned it over in his fingers.  "This was supposed to be an angreal, but it ... it's flawed somehow."  Reaching through the 'anti-angreal', Arath drew on Saidin.  Blessedly clean Saidin.  Only the barest whisper of the taint remained, but a great portion of his strength was gone along with it.  "It makes you weaker, rather than stronger.  But it has the interesting side effect of filtering out the taint.  I've been trying to make another one, but there's just too much I don't understand about it all."  With a sigh, Arath released Saidin.  He found it much harder to do so lately, now that he often used the flawed angreal.  The taint had always given him a reason to release the source quickly, but with the taint removed, he found himself tempted to hold it all day long.

Arath glanced over at the pretty Illianer woman and noticed in suprise that she was right next to him now.  Hadn't she started off almost across the table from him?  Suddenly unsure of what to do, Arath tried to turn the conversation around and get her talking instead.  "So I spend most of my days locked in my basement, trying to recreate a science lost an age ago.  What kinds of things do you like to do?"

She also informed Juliana that she would be taking Elody with her when she returned to Tar Valon, because she sensed in her the ability to learn to channel.

Unless she's a sparker, shouldn't that require actual testing?

Just because I've been busy and not completely paying 100% attention (and a healthy dash of confusion) The first phase thread hasn't started yet has it? I took several looks at the Stedding board and couldn't see anything that looked like it.

 

Let me know if I'm wrong and completely out of my mind.

 

Thanks

You may be entirely out of your mind, but no, it hasn't started yet :D

Having that ward in place was less assuring than Daevis would have hoped.  Knowing the wolf was nearby only made him more wary, and the bloody thing jumping silently out of the nearby bushes was still enough to make him wince.  At least it didn't try to kill him this time. 

"Still hungry?", Lorelai asked with a silly grin.  Daevis pondered for a moment, then nodded.  She could probably eat everything off both of the rabbits the wolf had delivered and still be hungry.  The healing had been extensive, and she'd be ravneously hungry for a couple of days yet.  But it had taken a bit out of him as well, and he'd rather have something to do while he waited.  He needed to stay in this area for at least a few hours before he'd be able to Travel away.  He could always skim, but that unending blackness always made him uneasy. 

"I can eat.  So long as you're not just fattening me up for the wolf."

Arath winced as Dashiva's fist hit the stone wall with a sickening crunch.  "We have scouting parties throughout Shienar and Arafel, looking for the main body of channelers there.  It's difficult to move around with that many fades and dreadlords watching, and so far we haven't found anything.  I think they're all still based somewhere in the blight, and just travel to where they're needed.  For the moment, we've reinforced the Kandori border but I doubt the shadow will bother with either Kandor or Saldea now, not when they have a wide open path to the south.  Tar Valon is the only thing standing in their way now."

The Storm Leader paused for a moment, wondering how best to explain what they had been up to in Tar Valon.  "With the situation as it is, we've worked out an arangement with the White Tower.  With the Red Ajah actually.  Something a little more ... solid ... then what Brent came up with.  Light willing, we'll be able to field circles of our own now and crush the dreadlords next time we meet.  I intend to drive the shadow back into the blight, but I won't commit more men to the slaughter until I know we at least have a chance."

Sooo ... who's getting who?  We're at that point where we kind of need to know ...

Post?  It looks like you'll be lucky if you even sleep. :P

Not to worry.  December is traditionally a slow time of the year around here anyway.  Along with the summer, spring break, thanksgiving weekend, Mardi Gras, valentines day ...

I say we sent him to Arad Doman for a while to clear his head. Also, he has to find a Domani who can cook their cusine really well so Arath and Covai don't have to keep making gateways halfway across the world for drinks and chinese food :D

Huh ... and I thought that we did that to watch the Domani women ...

Ummm ... you haven't been gone that long.  ICly, the timeline hasn't moved along at all.  We still haven't even wrapped up the WT/BT negotiations thread yet.

So there's no real need to do anything IC.  Just get back to driving the welcome wagon :D

Arath surpressed a grimace as all eyes turned to him.  If Dashiva had come home for an explanation, he certainly couldn't be denied it.  He could hear most of it from any soldier at the inn, and since Arath was the only person in the room who had been present at the defeat, it fell to him to best explain.

"You didn't see the half of it.  But I guess I'll start at the beginning.  It started with a recruiting party that came back from southern Shienar.  They were attacked by shadowspawn, and the one power.  The ones who managed to escape went immediately to Brent, and the fool had us moblilized withan the hour."

Arath went on to explain in great detail what had happened that day; the arrival of four hundred Asha'man in Shienar, the initial waves of shadowspawn, the slaughter of Kirrisin's forces inside of Fal Moran, and the retreat soon afterward.  And about the shadow's circles.

"Covai and I did the best we could with what we had, but we were sent in unprepared.  Brent couldn't see anything but the glory of liberating the country from the Shadow, and didn't give a second thought to actually finding out what we might be up against first.  He assumed he could overwhelm whatever problem we came across with numbers.  We fared well enough against the shadowspawn, but the dreadlord circles ... everything that's happened over the last couple weeks is because of those circles."

With that, Arath fell silent again, waiting for Dashiva's response.  He knew that the news was difficult for any of the Asha'man to handle, let alone a borderlander.  Haykes had been livid when he'd first heard about Shienar's fall.  Dashiva had to be going through the same turmoil.

Daevis stifled a yawn as the minutes wore on.  He'd expected this exercise to take some time; a few minutes at the very least.  But it was a full quarter of an hour before the first of the soldiers managed to thread his needle.  Those who had looked disdainful before now looked simply frustrated, craning their necks to see what others were trying, and failing, at.

Eventually, enough of them had finished the task to allow Daevis to continue.  Those who hadn't figured it out yet would just have to catch up later.  Walking over to a small sack he had intentionally left in a pile of slush, the Asha'man retrieved a number of sodden papers from inside and returned to the awaiting group.

"Your second task," Daevis said in his booming soldiers voice, "is to find out what your third task is.  It's written on these papers."  Daevis held up one of the dripping papers.  They had all been folded many times, creased very sharply, and had been soaking in the water for quite a while now.  It would be difficult to open them at all without them falling apart.  Even harder to open them without smearing the ink all over the place.  It was possible, but it needed to be done slowly, and required a great deal of patience.  Fortunately, Daevis had a lot of spares.  About three for every soldier present.

"Be careful.  The dedicated will be watching you.  If they deem your orders too badly damaged, you will need to start over again.  I'll see you when, or if, you manage to complete the task."  Without even a backwards glance, Daevis set off toward the inn.  He had at least a half an hour before any of the soldiers made it to the next task, and he had no intention of suffering in the cold along side them.  Travelling insured that he would be there before any of the soldiers.

OOC:  Alright.  Have fun with this one.  Fail once or twice, in whatever way you want.  Get frustrated and tear the thing in half.  Set it on fire while drying it out, suck out all the wet ink along with the moisture.

The papers simply say to run one section of the walls (2 mile stretch) then meet at a fallen tree just outside the gates.